Out-patient sclerotherapy: 40 volunteers wore compression bandages on the leg for periods of up to eight hours of normal activity. The pressure under the bandage was measured every two hours and after eight hours the pressure had fallen to zero. Therefore 112 patients undergoing out-patient compression sclerotherapy were randomly allocated into one of two groups: the bandages were worn for eight hours or three weeks. There was no difference in the short term results between the two groups. Following surgery: 34 patients undergoing stripping of unilateral varicose veins were studied. The pressure under the bandage applied at the end of the operation was measured. The haematoma in the leg was also measured. The results showed that variations in the bandaging pressure did not affect the size of the haematomas which averaged about 50 ml.